Gauge lapping machine



Oct.. 8, 1946.

A. M; BRAKE 2,409,113

. GAUGE LAPPING MACHINE `Filed June 27. 1944 4 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 8, 1946. k M BRAKE 2,409,113

GAUGE LAPPING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1944 4 sheets-smeet s Egea Get. 8, 1946. A. M. DRAKE GAUGE LAPPING MACHINEl 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 27, 1944 Patented Oct. 8, 1946 GAUGE LAPPING MACHINE Alden M. Drake, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to Niles-Bement-Pond Company, West Hartford, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 27, 1944, Serial No. 542,288;

11 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to lapping machines and particularly to a machine for lapping gauging surfaces such as those of an adjustable snap gauge having opposed flat parallel work engaging surfaces.

More in particular the invention relates to a lapping machine for flat parallel surfaces including means for mechanically holding a work piece in position with its surfaces being lapped in contact with opposed at parallel faces of a lapping member, the lapping member being actuated while the work piece is free to adjust itself relative to the lapping surfaces, and the work piece being actuated relative to the lapping surfaces while being free to adjust itself relative to the lapping member.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for actuating a lapping member having opposed at parallel faces, these movements being in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis while permitting the lapping member to adjust itself angularly about its longitudinal axis.

Another object of importance is to provide meansgfor actuating the work piece relative to the lapping member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lapping member while permitting the work piece to adjust itself to bear uniformly throughout its surfaces being lapped against the lapping surfaces and to oscillate about an axis normal to the surfaces being lapped.

And nally it is an object of the invention to provide means for adjusting the gauging surfaces of the work piece being lapped relative to the lapping member during the lapping operation.

With the above and other objects in view the invention includes the features of construction and operation set forth in the following speciiication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I

have shown the invention embodied in a machine for lapping the gauging surfaces of an adjustable gauge adapted particularly for gauging the diameters of plain cylindrical parts, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the principal parts of a lapping machine made in accordance with the present invention and showing a standard form of adjustable snap gauge in position for lapping operations upon its gauging surfaces.

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 upon an enlarged scale and sectioned to more clearly disclose the means for adjusting the parts of the work pie'ce being lapped.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sec-tional view through the work piece adjusting means shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is another view shown in side elevation of the clamping and adjusting means for the parts having their gauging surfaces lapped.

Fig. 5 is a detail mechanism forming part of the work restraining or positioning means during its actuation. s.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation in section of the actuating and mounting mechanism for the lapping member.

Fig. 'l is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6. c

Fig, 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane of line 8-8 shown in Fig. 6, and v Fig. 9 is a plan view of the work holder taken on the plane of line 9 9 inFig. 1.

In the above-mentioned drawings there has been shown .but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briey, andin its broadest aspect, the invention may include the following principal parts: First, a base; second, a horizontal spindle preferably adapted to be rotated at any appropriate speed; third, an eccentric on the forward end of the spindle adapted to engage a horizontally slidable shoe mounted within a vertically movable slide so that rotation of thespindle and eccentric will reciprocate the slide vertically a short distance; fourth, a lap holding member mounted within this vertical slide and preferably adjustable laterally with minimum friction; iifth, a lap mounted in this laterally movable member freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis; sixth,

a reciprocatory arm actuated hydraulically or otherwise in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lapping member; seventh, a bracket secured to the outer end of said arm and having an opening therein extending horizontally in a direction normal to the direction of movement of said arm; eighth, a yoke member having a lateral extension engaging within the opening in the bracket; ninth, resilient means retaining the yoke substantially in a vertical plane but permitting limited oscillatory movement about the axis of the projection; tenth, a second yoke engaging the rst yoke for oscillating movement about a substantially vertical axis; eleventh, work holding members within the second yoke member; and twelfth, means within the second yoke member for adjusting the parts of the work piece being lapped toward and from the lapping surfaces of the lap.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated is for lapping the work engagingsurfacesl of/an adjustable snap gauge. These surfaces after-,the gauge has been completely assembledare required to be finished to an extremei precision as to parallelism and flatness. Heretoforethisoperation has been accomplished by hand with a fixed lapping member-by moving the gauge over the surfaces `of vthev lap. The present machine -enables this cperatio'n'to'fbe 'accomplished 'me- "chanically, quickly 'andftoV a Thigh degree 'of parallelism.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the fdraw`in`gs',l`it will be' seenithat the' drawings disclose 'a machine for" actuating a lap Ahaving `op .`posed"flat parallel surfaces while'permittingad- "'justmentof the lap 'angularly about its longitudinal axis, there also being AWork supporting 'and actuating'means" associated' therewith. The mechanism for operating vthe 'lapping vmember "Will'rst be described.Y

4By "reference'rst to Fig. 6 it will be seen thata horizontal extending spindle "Ill is rotat- `ablyinountedivithinabase' I I. ,'*Preferably this spindle I may be rotated by'a"hydraulicvariable `speed device either continuouslyor"alternately in opposite," directions. VAstlie'n'ieansforrotating this spindle form no'partof vthev present 'in-v vention, further description of this rotating "means and its control is notthought'-to be necessary. At the forward end of this spindle I0 is'an eccentric |2exten`dn'g'centrally'within a bearing shoe |3""movable 'horizontally within `a slide I4 which 'in'turn is vertically movable on suitable Ways provided on -theiront face'of the base. 'Laterallymovable relative' to the vertical slide Iliis 'a horizontal slide` I5 mounted with- `n` 'the' vertical slide. From theabove' described 4mechanism 'it will be 'seenthat tliehorizontally movable' 'slide I5 Willbe' reciprocated vertically Vwith the verticallymovable 'slide` i4 butwillbe free to adjust itself laterally during 'this' vertical ,i'eciprocatory movement.

Witlinthe" horizontally Vmovable' slide" 'I5' is`a lap *holding Amember "It preferably m'ounte'd for 'rotation upon'anti-fri'ction bearingsabout ahorizontaliforwardly extending' axis lthat is parallel to the spindle Retained'in this holder i6 by 'any preferred"meansperm'itting convenient mounting and demounting' is a' lapping' member |'I. In the cmbodiment'ofjthe invention shown the 'drawings' the`lappin'g'm'ember ITis in the form of a"'rectangula1"'rod, 'opposite sides of which'form'the lapping'surfaces. This'rod I`| extends horizontally, 'is free to .adjust itself laterally and angularlyaboutits longitudinalaxis, andis reciprocated by the"ve`rtical"slide' |13 and eccentric I2 in a vertical plane. The means for actuating the work piece W relative to and during actuation of the lapping member comprise a piston 20 shown in'Fig.

1 which `may Ybe vreciprocated "hydraulically or `45 in the bracket 2|.

'70 members 3S on the opposite side.

4 the lapping member I1. As the operating mechanism for this piston forms no part of this in- VentionI further description is not thought necessary. At the forward end of this piston is a 5 laterally extended bracket 2| secured thereto and having a transverse horizontal opening extending therethrough. The bracket 2| at the free end of the piston or ram 20 is secured thereto in iixed position but is free to be angularly adjusted with the piston 20 about its axis. A forwardly extending bar 22 is provided in the base extending parallelly to and at one side of the `piston 20 against which a roller 23 on the bracket `2| Ymay ride. V'This engagement of the roller 23 with the rod or-bar 22 keeps the bracket 2| in position to support yoke members, presently to Jbe described'in position to engage the work piece W with the lapping member I'I. When not in use, however, the bracket 2| may be swung to an angularly inoperative position for changing the yokes or to mount other types of work pieces. `The transverse opening in thebracketZI .forms La bearing fora yoke'24 having upper 'and' lower extending arms and26, respectivelyyadapted 25 to retain another yoke member :'21 therein, 'The `yoke'Zl has an extension 28 enteringtheV opening in the bracket 0r arm 2| about the axis of which the'yoke member24 may oscillate. 'As shown inFigs. 1 and 9, arrns'25` and 26 are or go'may be integral with the central portion of yoke VEil. Arms 29 and 33, Which mayform a' unitary member, are pivota'lly mounted relative to arms 25 and 26' andare resiliently held toward'their closed position'relative to ar1ns^25 `and 26 by a spring 3| pressing fplunger 3| a against 'the central portion of themember forming thearms 28 and 29.

In 'order to resiliently retain lthe-first yoke "member 24 in substantially vertical position dur '40 ingreciprocatory movements of the bracket 2| the yoke 24 has Yan arm 32'extending laterally and horizontally above the axis `of its horizontal extension 28. The end of this arm 32 engages Lbetween two spring pressed plungers 33 mounted The yoke member24, therefore, is constrained Ytoremain in-a substantially Vvertical position but may oscillate against the "pressure kof "light springs engaging plungers 33, the pressure-of which'may be adjusted lby screws `34, forcing the "plungers 33 together-against opposite sides'of the/arm 32.

The second yoke member 21 referred to above and which has its -upper and lowerextension 35 disposed vbetween thearmsf25 and 26 of the first yoke -member24-onone side'and armSZS'and/S on the opposite Vside is adapted Yto have a Work piece W clamped substantially centrally therein. As the clamping -members may be of any `approved form, it is not thought that furtherdef scription of them is necessary.

Mountedon this second yoke member 21 -are adjusting and clamping means for theadjustable gauging members `36 of the work piece AW, the work engaging surfaces of which are being lapped. The particular embodiment ofthe invention described in thedrawings is a snap gauge for plain cylindricalfmembers, there being ka single anvil 31 alonglone side ofthe frame and two independently adjustable-anvils or gauging The opposed lsurfaces of the single anvil131'and the opposed adjustable anvils 36 have dat parallel faces which 4are the surfaces lapped in thislappingmachine and form the gauging or work engaging surfaces V 'of-the snap gauge -W;

springs 43.

In order to effect bers 36 during the lapping operation screw driver members 40 are mounted within the second yoke member 21, two of which engage the slotted ends of the adjusting screws 4l for the anvils 36 and the other two engage the ends of the clamping screws 42 for these anvil members. These screw driver members 4e are slidably mounted within portions of the yoke 21 and are normally pressed toward their anvil engaging positions by light Hand levers 44 are provided for the screw driver member 4I] engaging the adjusting and clamping screws 4| and 42 so that these members V4l) may be quickly withdrawn from engagement whenever desired.

To rotate these screw driver members 4D to unclamp, adjust, and reclamp the anvils 35, gears 45 are provided on these members 40 in mesh with elongated idlers 46 which in turn are engaged by other pinions 41 on shafts 48 rotatable manually by handles extending to the outside of the yoke member 21. By means of the pnions 45-45 and 41 and the location of their supporting shafts the handles 49 are spaced apart for convenient operation.

In operation the lapping member l1 is reciprocated in a vertical plane and with the work piece W mounted in yoke 21, as shown, the bracket 2l is reciprocated horizontally in the direction of the axis of the lapping member. This movement induces a swinging movement of the yoke 21 and yoke 24 about the axis of the extension 2.8. This swinging movement is due to the fact that the support and operating connection for the yoke 24, that is the extension 28, is a material distance above the axis of the lapping member. Also the lapping member l1 can freely adjust itself laterally and angularly about its axis. In addition the yoke 21 can swing about the axis of its upper and lower extensions 35.

The result of these movements and adjustments is to permit the surfaces of anvils 36 and 31 being lapped to bear evenly upon the surfaces of the lapping member I1. The pressure of these surfaces against the lapping member l1 may be adjusted during operation by means of the screw driver members 40 engaging the adjusting and clamping members 4l and 42 for the anvils 36. In this manner and with a lapping compound applied to the member I1 lapping can be continued until opposite fiat parallel surfaces are obtained on the anvils 36 and 31.

What I claim is:

1. A lapping machine comprising in combination, mechanism for reciprocating a lap having flat parallel lapping surfaces, means providing adjustment of said lap in a direction normal to its direction of movement, means for actuating a work piece having opposed parallel surfaces over the surfaces of said lap in a direction parallel to said lap, means supporting the work piece with the surfaces being lapped contacting opposite surfaces of said lap, and means providing lateral adjustment of said work piece relative to said lap, whereby said work piece may adjust itself to the surfaces of said lap during lapping movements of said work piece and lap.

2. A lapping machine comprising in combination, mechanism for reciprocating a lap having flat parallel lapping surfaces, means providing adjustment of said lap angularly about its axis and in a direction normal to its direction of movement, vmeans for actuating a work piece having opposed parallel surfaces over the surfaces of said lap in a direction parallel to said lap these adjustments of memwhile said lap is being reciprocated, means supporting the work piece with surfaces being lapped contacting opposite surfaces of said lap, and means providing lateral adjustment of said work piece relative to said lap, whereby said work piece may adjust itself to the surfaces of said lap during lapping movements of said work piece and lap.

. 3. A lapping machine comprising in combination, mechanism for reciprocating a lap having flat parallel lapping surfaces, means providing adjustment of said lap in a direction normal thereto,-means for actuating a work piece having opposed parallel surfaces over the surfaces of said lap in a direction parallel to said lap while said lap is being reciprocated, means supporting the work piece with surfaces being lapped contacting opposite surfaces of said lap, and means effecting oscillatory movements of said work piece relative to said lap during the lapping operation, whereby said work piece may adjust itself to the surfaces of said lap during lapping movements of said work piece and lap.

4. An operating mechanism for the lapping member of a lapping machine comprising a rotatable spindle having an eccentric at one end, a slide reciprocated thereby in a vertical plane normal to the axis of said spindle, a second slide mounted within said first mentioned slide for free movement in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of said rst slide, and a lapping member having opposite plane parallel lapping surfaces mounted in said second slide for free rotary movement about its longitudinal central axis.

5. Work supporting and actuating means for a lapping machine comprising in combination, a yoke member having a projection extending laterally therefrom, actuating means engaging said projection for reciprocating said yoke member, a second yoke supported for oscillatory movements about an axis normal to the reciprocatory` movements of said rst yoke member, and work clamping means within said second yoke.

6. Work supporting and actuating means for a lapping machine comprising in combination, a yoke member having a projection extending laterally therefrom, actuating means engaging said projection for reciprocating said yoke member while permitting oscillatory movements thereof,

a second yoke supported by said first yoke for oscillatory movements about an axis normal to the oscillatory movements of said first yoke member, and work clamping means within said second yoke.

'7. Work supporting and actuating means for a lapping machine comprising in combination, a yoke member having a projection extending laterally therefrom, actuating means engaging said projection for reciprocating said yoke member in a direction normal to said projection, a second yoke supported by said first yoke member for oscillatory movements about an axis normal to the reciprocatory movements of said first yoke member, and work clamping means within said second yoke.

8. Work supporting and actuating means for a lapping machine comprising in combination, a yoke member having a projection extending laterally therefrom, actuating means engaging said projection for reciprocating said yoke member horizontally while permitting oscillatory movements of said yoke member about said projection, a second yoke supported by said first yoke member for oscillatory movements about an axis normal to -the oscillatory movements of s'a'id -rst yoke member, and work clamping .means 'within said second yoke. Y

9. Work adjusting means for a lapping machine comprising in combination, a yoke member, means to reciprocate saidydke member while permitting angular adjustments thereof, clamping means within said yoke member for a, work piece, and means mounted within said yoke member for advancing a part being lapped toward a lapping member during the .lapping operation.

1'0. Work adjusting means for a lapping machine comprising in combination, a yoke membei', means to reciprocate said yoke member While permitting angular adjustments thereof, clamping means within said yoke member for a work piece, and meansmounted withinsaid yoke member for 'adjusting a part of the Work piece being lapped toward the lapping surface of the lapping member during Vthe lapping operation.

11. Work adjusting means for a lapping machine comprising in combination, a yoke member., means to reciprocate said yoke member while permitting angular adjustments thereof, clamping means within said yoke member for a work piece, vmeans mounted Within said yoke member for adjusting a part being lapped toward the lapping member during the lapping operation, and means 'to clamp 'and unclamp said part.

ALDEN M. DRAKE. 

